A Very Present Help In Trouble: Calming Storms and Opening Pathways Providing Refuge and Light in Darkness

By Marilyn James

Where is God during our time of crises?

During the past year, our country has experienced terrorism, political disharmony, protests, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, fires, floods, and insurrection. And now we have the Covid-19 pandemic; the kind of trouble no one anticipated. The Coronavirus has impacted the entire global c

• Language: English
• Publisher: Palmetto Publishing
• Release date: Sep 2, 2021
• ISBN: 9781638372882

Marilyn James

Marilyn I. James is an educator, missionary, and philanthropist. She serves as executive director of Children & Charity International, and has been the NASA SEMAA Family Café Coordinator at the Science and Engineering Center of the University of the District of Columbia. An advocate for academic enrichment, Marilyn also works with government and funding agencies for pre-college programs and community partnerships. She is most proud of the 20 years she dedicated to providing services and support to U.S. military chaplains and their families.As an educator, Marilyn writes based on personal experiences and those gained addressing the needs of participants she interacts with in communities while providing academic, enrichment, and cultural programs. She believes there is a divine being at work in our lives, and that this authority is within us if we yield to its call. By yielding we are able to overcome the many obstacles, tests, and challenges we will encounter on life's journey.Marilyn utilizes her skills as a poet, playwright, and song writer to motivate others. She has written a children's book series called Mingo Learns, along with a parent's guide called The Early Years: Helping Our Children Succeed, as well as other inspirational books. For more information, visit http://www.childrenandcharity.org.

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Introduction

T

rouble and trials or storms of life are everywhere. They affect us from birth till death. These storms may be simple or complex; and can range from a childish peeve to a global pandemic.

During trouble, we often need immediate help. In seeking help: A drowning man may catch at a straw. A cancer patient may explore alternative treatment. A kidnapped victim may take flight at the first opening. An offender may request a second chance. A person in a burning building may cry out for help or jump to escape.

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic highlighted a global need for immediate help. In Psalm 46 God promises to be our refuge and strength; a very present help in trouble. Key in this promise is that God is very present when providing help in time of trouble. The Hebrew word for present can mean to be found, discovered, to be encountered, recognized, to be enough. When we are in our darkest moment, and feel we can no longer go on, God reveals himself to us as expressed in verses 5 thru 7 of Psalm 46.

⁵ God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.

⁶ The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.

⁷ The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.

God can and will be all of these to believers in time of trouble.

CHAPTER 1

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Hello God- Please Help Us!

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills,

from whence cometh my help.

My help cometh from the Lord,

which made heaven and earth.

Psalm 121:1‑2

Heavenly Touch

O

ne of the thieves that was hung on the cross with Jesus said to Him, Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. Jesus answered him, Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise. Luke 23:42‑43. These words may sound strange to the ordinary person because to humans, everyday problems are solved using logic. So when an unexpected result occurs it leaves us speechless, and to our earthly sense of reasoning think there is no way the outcome should have happened. In that instant maybe we feel like Johnny Nash and believe, there are more questions than answers; and the more I find out the less I know.

Serendipitous manifestations invoke questions and thoughts of, how is that possible? Is this for real? Matthew 8:23‑27 and Mark 4:35‑41, give an account of another incident with a ‘heavenly touch.’

The disciples were experiencing a storm during which they cried out, Save us, Lord; we are perishing. And he said to them, Why are you afraid, O you of little faith? Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?

God intervening in times of trouble is not new. On September 11, 2001, the United States experienced a catastrophic storm in the form of a terrorist attack. A total of 2,977 people were killed, excluding the perpetrators, and more than 6,000 were injured. Amidst the destruction, there are many stories of God's very present help and rescue. ABC News[1] reported on a few of them.

Florence Jones[2] was working for Baseline Financial on September 11, 2001, at the World Trade Center when planes piloted by terrorists plowed into the two towers in downtown Manhattan. Jones was on the 78th floor of the South Tower. Jones says, I remember distinctly saying what a beautiful day this started out to be and it descended into hell on Earth, I really thought the end of the island was just going to fall into the East River. Of the last 25 people out of the South Tower that day, she was No. 18.

Jay Jonas[3] was a captain for the Fire Department City of New York on September 11, 2001. He was among 14 people – 12 of them firefighters – who found themselves trapped on a stairwell between the second and fourth floors after the North Tower had collapsed. Mr. Jonas explained that he and the others waited three hours in the darkness until the dust and smoke settled. Then they slowly crossed a three-story-deep trench of twisted metal. He said, If you look at the chain of events that happened that day for us, "It is very unlikely that we would survive